Chapter 57: Embroidery

Chewing on a blade of grass, Ai Hui was sitting in the old man’s small junk garden . He suddenly saw the copper armor and noiselessly shifted himself a bit further away from it .

The previous experience was simply so miserable that even a guy like Ai Hui, who had a steel heart full of determination, was traumatized .

The old man did not notice Ai Hui’s subtle movement . He was busy elaborating on his analysis of the results .

“ . . . low aptitude and a lower affinity between your body and elemental energy are actually not bad things . Other than allowing you to endure purer energy, the lower sensitivity allows you to absorb it from a wider scope . Precious racing horses, for example, are gifted but picky about food and are fed better meals than humans . A worn out, old horse like you can’t run fast but can endure well and is easy to manage . You’ll eat whatever grass there is and survive well . Eh? You’re really eating grass!”

Ai Hui continued to chew on his grass sluggishly .

The old man stopped his discourse and hurriedly added, “Go on, go on, eat it . ”

He went on to say, “Looks like my example was really fitting . ”

Ai Hui felt weird now . Should he continue chewing or spit it out?

“I’ve tested the metal elemental energy at the Suspending Golden Pagoda, and it suits you very well . Train there in the future . As compared to your weak aptitude, your body is very strong . The effects of the tempering of your body are obvious . You’re of a lower grade now, so the result is optimal . The metal elemental energy in the pagoda is of a high grade and is not something that you were supposed to touch based on your current base level . But since your body quality is the most outstanding I’ve seen so far and you’re good at using it, the tempering is super effective . Of course, this has something to do with the fact that the metal elemental energy in the pagoda is of a high grade . The degree of metallization is the greatest on your skin, and [Copper Skin] is already about eighty percent completed . Judging from this speed, you’re about two months away from perfecting [Copper Skin] .

The old man exclaimed with admiration, “This is my first time seeing someone developing [Copper Skin] even before activating a single palace . How astonishing!”

Ai Hui felt a little satisfied, knowing that he had surprised his teacher .

“Of course, the main point is still your seven strong palaces . Other than the sky palace, seven are strong and very balanced . It is an amazing gift and will come in handy especially when you’re selecting the moves in future . I remember there is a technique in the Induction Ground called [Big Dipper], which only requires seven strong palaces . Although it is not an absolute art, it is still incredibly powerful and wondrous . ”

Ai Hui’s eyes shone . He asked without the slightest hesitation, “Can I learn it?”

“Of course, you can apply as long as you get into the top five thousand within the Induction Ground . ” The old man carried on happily, “Oh, you’re now my disciple . You only have to fulfill one criterion, and the institution will approve your application . I’ve already filed a record of our master-disciple relationship and sent it over . ”

Top five thousand…doesn’t seem like much of a requirement .

The old man noticed Ai Hui’s expression and guessed his thoughts . “Don’t look down on this five thousand names . Their rankings are based on the entire Induction Ground . The best student from previous batches within Central Pine Academy barely squeezed into the top five hundred . Roughly, you’d have to be amongst the top ten in the school to enter the top five thousand within the Induction Ground . ”

Ai Hui was dumbfounded . “I have to get into the top ten in Central Pine Academy to make it to the top five thousand?”

“That’s correct!” The old man laughed somewhat gleefully .

Ai Hui realized how naive he had been . Top ten within Central Pine City seemed like a faraway goal to him .

However, as if nothing had happened, he shortly asked, “What was the training method that you talked about previously?”

The old man was surprised by Ai Hui’s ability to adjust his mood . He did not know exactly how many setbacks Ai Hui had encountered since young—such an obstacle meant nothing to him .

The old man spat out a single word: “Embroidery!”

“Embroidery?” Ai Hui was shocked, and his face stiffened . A few moments later, he repeated lifelessly, “Embroidery? Like flower embroidery?”

“That’s right!” The old man answered with such certainty that Ai Hui knew there was no mistake .

Ai Hui stared at the old man with an unkind expression . Yes, he was his teacher, but if he was going to be so unreliable, they would have to have a proper chat .

Without the slightest embarrassment, the old man asked, “Embroidery, you understand?”

Ai Hui replied with an impolite tone, “Yes, women’s embroidery . ”

“Rigid! Superficial!” The old man shook his head, full of disdain . “Embroidery takes elemental energy as the needle which threads the embroidery pattern . Is it easy? There are thick and thin threads, soft and hard leather, cotton and silk . Are the complicated patterns easy? A skilled person can control ten elemental energy needles and embroidery patterns from different places at the same time . And do you know how many elemental energy needles can the best of the best control at once?”

“How many?” Ai Hui blurted out; he was lured by the old man’s words .

“The current record is nine hundred and forty-nine,” the old man answered, his face filled with awe .

Ai Hui was stunned . How in the world? He just couldn’t wrap his head around it!

“When present age embroidery master, Han Yuqin, embroiders with nine hundred and forty-nine elemental energy needles, it’s like enveloping black clouds or a shoal of fish moving together . Multicolored embroidery threads weave together in the sky like a rainbow . That’s also why her work is known as ‘The Rainbow Embroidery . ’ No matter how complicated an embroidery design is, she never takes over an hour to complete it,” the old man said seriously .

“And the threads, do you think all of them are light? Coal thread is as fine as a strand of hair, but it is very heavy . How difficult would it be to control its movement with the light and floaty elemental energy needle? Soft silver thread is very soft, like water . Any error in power control will break it . And some leathers can only be pierced through by using elemental needles wrapped with a medicinal bag . ”

The old man’s description appealed to Ai Hui and left him speechless . He never thought that embroidery involved so much knowledge and details .

“Learn embroidery first and then sculpting . ” The old man gave his guidance . “If you can familiarize yourself with these two skills, you will definitely gain fine control over elemental energy . The more exceptional your control is, the more beneficial it is to you . ”

Ai Hui was convinced . He had to admit that the old man’s words were very logical .

While it was a little embarrassing for a man to learn embroidery, he had no issue with it as long as he could become stronger . To say that embroidery wasn't as noble as hard labor would be utter nonsense!

The old man was pleased, but he concealed it well . “Smart choice! Son, you will definitely be proud of this decision in future! Don’t worry, I don’t speak without thinking . I made this suggestion after proper consideration . ”

“Where am I going to learn?” he asked boldly; he had now set his heart on it .

“Don’t worry, there’s a workshop I’m familiar with . ” The old man added energetically, “Follow me!”

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